Interlocking apparatus for operating signals



(No Model.) s Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. KOENIG & S. H. STUPAKOPF. INTERLOOKING APPARATUS FOR OPERATING SIGNALS.

Patented Apr. 1, 1890.

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3 sheets sheet 2.

G. KOENIG &' S. H. STUPAKOFP. INTBRLOGKING APPARATUS FOR OPERATING SIGNALS.

No. 424,485. Patented Apr. 1, 1890.

(No Model.)

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(No Model.) 4 3 Sheets-Sheet s.

G. KOENIG & S. H. STUPAKOFF. INTBRLOGKING APPARATUS FOR OPERATING SIGNALS.

No. 424,485. Patented'Apr. '1, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT DFFICE.

GEORGE KOENIG AND SIMON HEINRICH S'IUPAKOFF, OFPITTSBURG,

PENNSYLVANIA.

INTERLOCKING APPARATUS FOR OPERATING SIGNALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 424,485, dated April 1, 1890.

Application filed March 1, 1889. Renewed February 14, 1890. Serial lie-340E765 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, GEORGE KOENIG and SIMON HEINRICH STUPAKOFF, both of the city of Pittsburg, county of Allegheny, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Interlocking Apparatuses for Operating Signals in Combination with Switches; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference bein g had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to a novel combination and construction of parts of such safety appliances for railroads as are known by the name of selectors, and serves for the pur pose of operating, by means of one single lever, two or more signals indicating the position of the switches pertaining to the same.

Our invention applies equally to railroad interlocking-machines which are used in signal-towers and in which the interlocking of the switch and signal levers is directly effected by suitable locking devices. Mechanical selectors heretofore applied for operating several signal-blades by means of one lever were absolutely safe only for two blades, while others, relying on gravity or springs, had grave objections in all cases.

The object of our invention is to provide such an improvement upon the construction of selectors as in a simple device will combine cheapness with durability and absolute safety for all and any number of train movements which are dependent upon a correct position of the signal-blades and the relative position of the switches and crossovers pertaining to the same. This we accomplish by the division of the rods which lead to the various signal-blades into a certain number of parts corresponding to the arrangement and the requirementsof the switches and cross-overs, effecting thereby the possibility of moving one end of such rods independently of the other, and by the interposition of coupling pieces or clutches at such points of interruption, which, being guided and regulated in their relative position to the rods operating the signals by rods standing in connection with the switches, will effect a coupling or uncoupling of the continuation of the connecting-rod common to all signals and its branch or branches leading to the respective signalblades pertaining to the same, and by interposing locking-blocks between the switch-rods by means of the signal-rods, or, vice versa, between the signal-rods by means of the switch rods, as the requirements may prescribe.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents the general arrangement of a portion of a railroad-plant. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the selector in its normal position, the top plate being removed. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the common connectingrod withits prongs. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the coupling-piece. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the intermediate signal-bar. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a single signalbar. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a looking or switch bar, and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the base of the selector from which all working and moving parts have been removed.

Like letters and figures denote like parts in all the drawings.

Referring to Fig. 1, A, B, G, and D indicate four parallel tracks, which are provided with three cross-over switches W W W' The switches are connected by the rods G, G G G G and G to the bell-cranks F,F ,F ,F F and F, respectively, and a further connection between these and the bell-cranks F F and F is effected by the rods G G and G respectively, while E, E and E represent rods coupling those bell-cranks to the levers I, II, and III of the interlocking machine placed in the tower T. The lever IV of the interlocking machine is connected with the selector M by means of the rod E bell-crank LII.

-s, s s and s" to the base of the selector.

balance-levers B, B B and B of the signalpost P. This signal-post P is also provided with four signal-blades a, b, c, and d, five wire sheaves R R R R R and one bracket Q for the reception of such wire sheaves. A connection between the balance-levers and the signal-blades is efiected by the rods L, L L and L The balance-levers are provided with the counter-weights K, K K and K and the wires .71, n 72 and n", which latter are jointed at the point 0 to the back wire 4", which returns over the wire sheave R as wire 7' over thewire sheave R to the sliding bar 8 of the selector M. The locking-bars 1, 2, and 3 stand in connection with the rods G G and G by the interposed bell-cranks F, F and F In Fig. 2, M represents the casing for the selector mechanism. 3 is a sliding bar terminating in the four prongs s, s s and 8 2?, t t and t are sliding bars fitted loosely and independently from but in line with the prongs 2, and 3 are sliding bars placed at an angle to the sliding bars 25, t t and i 40, 10 u, u, 20", u", 10 ,46, and u are coupling-pieces loosely fitted to and guided by the bars 1, 2,

..and 3, and made in such a way that they may slide freely with these or in the direction from s to t, or vice versa, with the set of interrupted sliding bars, as their relative position to either of them will permit. 12, U2, if", if, and W5 are intermediate bars placed in line with and between the sliding bars t t t t and the prongs s, s s and s of the sliding bar 8, and m, 00 :0 00 12 w, m m and x are extensions of the sliding bars 1, 2, and 3, protruding within reach of the sliding bars 15' t t i the intermediate bars 1 to and the rows 8 to s respectively.

Before entering into a detailed description of our device we deem it advisable to. explain some of the requirements of a perfect railroad plant and the relation which exists between the various semaphore-blades mounted on one signal-post and the right of way for moving trains on tracks which are governed by said signal-blades. To this effect we refer to the accompanying drawings on Sheet 1, in which a part of a railroad plant is illustrated.

The usual way adopted for indicating the position of the switches in regard to the tracks is that the upper blade of the signal indicated by the letter a has always and only reference to trains moving from Y to A. The second blade 1) refers in the same way to trains moving from Y toB, the third for trains from Y to G, and the fourth cl for trains from Y to D, and so on, if more tracks should be provided for. Under normal position of the crossover switches it is understood that trains moving from Y have right of way to A, trains froinY to B, from Y to C, and from Y to D, and no other one. The normal position of all signal-blades is the horizontal or dan ger position. Therefore it should be evident that if a train is given the right of way from Y to A by a safety or downward position of the signal a the switch 1V should be locked in its normal position in order to preventatrain from B coming in collision with the same, and the switch W in its normal position should prevent from giving any other signal but that for the straight route from Y to A; but at the same time it should not prevent from moving or reversing the switches NV and as in this case there is nothing in the way to interfere with trains moving from Y to O or D and from Y to D, or vice versa in the opposite direction. If, however, a train approaching from Y is given the right of way over the cross-over switches WV to B, then it will be necessary that the cross-over switches W, should be locked in the reversed position, while the cross-over switches 1V should be locked in theirnormal positions, and the crossover switches WV should be free to occupy either their normal or their reversed positions. Furthermore, should the signal 1) occupy the reversed or the safety position, the

signals a, c, and d should be locked in their normal or danger positions. In a third case,

when a train has the right of way from Y to C, the cross-over switches W andW must be reversed and the cross-over switches must occupy their normal positions. The signals a, b, and (I must be locked in their normal positions, while the reversing of signal-blade c to the safety position should thus lock the switches. Finally, it is necessary that if a train has the right of way from Y over the cross-over switches WV, V and NV to D, all switches must occupy areversed position, the signal-blades a, b, and 0' must be locked in their normal or danger position, and a moving of the signal-blade (Z must efiect a locking of all the switches in their reversed position.

The main principle upon which the whole system of interlocking is based consists therein that a safety signal should not be given before the switches pertaining to the same have been placed in their proper position, and therefore. the unlocking of the signal from the danger position should not be possible before the reversing of the switches actually has taken place. Moreover, a throwing back of the switches should not be possible unless the signal pertaining to them occupies its danger position, and therefore the unlocking of the switches should not be performed before the signals have fully completed their stroke and stand at their danger position, while the locking of such signals as would indicate in their safety positions dilferent routes than the one opened and determined by the switch or switches ICC within its direction should take place at the beginning of the movement of such switch or switches; and, finally, the switches should be locked intheir relative positions at the beginning of the movement of the signals.

The purpose of our invention is to eifect the interlocking of switches and signals strictly after this principle and in a way like or simi-v lar to the one just described, which is onlyfla single instance of the many cases which may occur; to operate two or more signal-blades with one single lever, and to interlock signals and switches mechanically by means of a safety device, which may be placed at any point between the interlocking machine, the signals, and the switches, and either in close proximity to the operating-lever, thetrack, the signals, or the switches, or at any distance from the same, as the requirements or convenience may prescribe. To the best of our knowledge this has heretofore never been accomplished for more than two signals at a time.

The operation of our selector is as follows: In the normal position, as shown in Fig. 2, the rod .5, with its four prongs s,s s and s occupies a position which willenable a motion of the same in an outward direction to the left. The sliding bars 1, 2, and 3, whose relative position is directly dependent upon the position of the switches, and which, in consequence thereof, we shall call the switchbars of the selector, are drawn out and occupy a position which permits an inward motion of the same that is, a motion in the di rection from their eyes q, (1 and (1 toward the selector. The position of the couplingpieces, which is in the first line determined.

by the position of the switch-bars, is in this case as follows: it couples 3' to 25'. The couplings n n and izfi, which need to occupy a the signal-bars t t and t is therefore inter-- 'rupted, and a movement of the connectingrod 5 in consequence thereof will aifect only the signal-bar t, while the bars 29, t and t are securely looked (that is, prevented from moving) by the upwardly-extendinglockin g-blocks x 0: of the switch-bar 1 in one direction and by the offsets in the bars lying against the rim of the box in the other direction. A slight movement of'the connecting-rod s, with the signal-bar 6 thus secured to the same, locks, therefore, at once the switch-bar 1 in one way by the clutch a with the signal-bar t, and by the locking-block 00 with the signal-bar t in the other way, while the switch-bars 2 and 3 are in no way prevented from changing their position. It will be noticed that before another combination of interlocking can be obtained it is absolutely necessary to return the sign. l-bar t, with the clutch to and the operating-rod s, tothe normal position.

The second combination will take place after the switch-bar 1 has been moved, or after it occupies a position which is reversed from the normal one. Areversing of this bar carswitch-bar 2 The ries along the clutches it aw w in thesame direction toward which it is moved and effects a combination between the prongs s s s and the intermediate bars 1 '0 and c respectively. The locking-block at" will now occupy a position between the prong s and the signal-bar t, while the locking-blocks m m and 00 on account of their removal from the signal-bar passages, will allow the intermediate bars 4;, c and c to be moved. The clutch n being placed at the normal position of the switch-bar 2, in line with signal-bar 2?, will complete in this case the connection from s to i by way of the intermediate bar v,'while the connections between t t t and s, s, and s are interrupted at 01;,00", and 00 respectively, which locking-blocks as parts of the switchbars prevent the signal-bars 15, t and t in this position from being moved in the direction toward the connecting-rod 3. On withdrawal of the rod 3 from the selector, and with-it-the movement of the signal-bar t the clutches 10 it a n and the intermediate bars Q}, o will effectat once a locking of the switch-bar 1 at :0 oc and 0c in the reversed and of the at r in the normal position. The switch-bar 3, however, is not locked and free to be moved in either the normal or the reversed position.

\Ve will now return all parts to their normal position,in order to'procure a-third combination. To effect this, we shall reverse the switch-bars 1 and 2 and leave the switch-bar 3 in its normal position. As before, the switchbar 1 will carry along with it the clutches u, 10 u and it, and will place its locking-block at between 5 and t, while the switch-bar 2 will shift the clutches 11- to, and M disconnecting thereby o" and t and connecting o and 1: and o and 0 respectively, unlocking at the same time the signal-bars t and 2%, but locking the signal-bar t on account of the different posi-' tions which the locking-blocks m 92 and x occupy after this movement has taken place. The switch-bar 3, being in its normal position, will hold 23 also in its normal 'positiomlocked with the locking-block 00 while with the clutch a the connection of s with t is completed by.

the aid of o, u, of, and u". A pulling of the IIO connecting-rod s will therefore affect the position of the signal-bar t and in doing this it looks the switch-bar 3, while the signal-bars t, 15 and t are in no way affected, but locked in their-normal positions by the interposed Again, we will preits normal position, and we shall proceed to complete the fourth and last combination,

which we are ableto obtain with the 'iden-ti-q cal apparatus shown'in the drawings. it We now reverse the switch-bars 1, 2,-and 3."-In

addition to the shiftin'g'of theclutchesand locking-blocks dependent from and proper to the switch-bars 1. and 2,as before mentioned, we shift in this case by means of the switchbar 3 also the clutches u and n and the locking-blocks x and :2 thereby unlocking the signal-bar If and coupling the same to the operating-rod s by the aid of w, 175, n t and u and uncoupling and locking signal-bar F. A pulling of the rod 8 will now affect signal-bar t while it will not affect signal-bars 6, i and t and it will look all the switch-bars in their reversed position.

Now it is evident that in the same way and by the same means like results may be obtained if it should be required to operate more or less switches and signals by interlocking with'each other. As in the first case, it only will be necessary to add one or more signal or switch bars with the proper number of clutches or couplings and intermediate bars, while in the second case acorresponding number of bars, clutches, intermediate pieces, and locking-blocks have to be omitted, and also anynumber of combinations may be obtained by merely interchanging the working parts of the mechanism. Therefore we do not limit ourselves to a mechanism in which an interlocking of the different parts should take place in exactly the same Way and order as in the example given in this specification; neither do we limit ourselves to the construction and to the arrangement of the operating parts, as such will readily suggest themselves to anyone acquainted with the art to which this device pertains, and though we do not claim, broadly, a selector in which, by means of one operating-rod, one of several signalblades is operated,

\Ve do claim as our invention- 1. In an interlocking apparatus for switch and signal movements, the combination of the clutches with the longitudinal signal-bars formed in sections and the transverse interlocking bars, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a switch and signal interlocking apparatus, the combination, with a switch or switches controlling two or more railwaytracks, of one actuating-rod for working all said signals, a series of signal-bars, one for each signal, formed in sections and havingmeans of said clutches or coupling-pieces and 1 thedisengagement of all others, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a switch and signal interlocking apparatus, the combination, with a switch or switches controlling two or more railwaytracks, of an actuating-rod provided with prongs or hooks for working all said signals, a series of signal-bars, one for each signal and formed in sections, a series of transverse switch bars, one for each switch, having loosely mounted thereon anumber of clutches or coupling-pieces, said switch-bars being also provided with a number of locking blocks or extensions, whereby when said bars are reciprocated laterally the engagement and connection of either said longitudinal bars with the actuating-rod is efiected and the disengagement and locking of all others, substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing we hereunto affix our signatures this 27th day of February, A. D. 1889.

GEORGE KOENIG. L. 8.] SIMON HEINRICH STUPAKOFF. L. s] In presence of- JAMES BRYAR, WILLIAM J. SIMPsoN. 

